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The long-standing feud between
embattled Mount Vernon Mayor
Richard Thomas and Comptroller Deborah Reynolds is set to come to a head this week in court.

The mayor and his comptroller are set to say their parts in front of Judge Susan Cacace in state Supreme Court in Westchester, with the trial to kick off on Wednesday, Dec. 5.

Thomas has contended that Reynolds is failing to do her job, and has even
petitioned
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to remove her from her elected position.

Reynolds has stated that Thomas should be ousted, citing
criminal claims
that have been levied against him this year, claiming that he allegedly stole $12,900 from his campaign committee and diverted more than $45,000 from his inaugural committee for personal use and failed to disclose that information to officials.

According to Thomas, “work is not getting done, which is what happens when you don’t pay people.” He also stated that without certain forms that need to be filed by Reynolds, the city cannot adopt a budget for 2019.

“The first thing we are asking the court to do is to order the Comptroller to open her books so elected officials and the public can get an accurate picture of the city's finances,” Thomas wrote in an email. “Problems have been festering all year. Now they are erupting.” Reynolds could not be reached for a comment on Tuesday afternoon.